Arsenal target Jamie Vardy set to delay decision on future until after Euro 2016
Striker Jamie Vardy looks set to adhere to the wishes of England manager Roy Hodgson and postpone any decision over his domestic future until after the European Championship.
Arsenal triggered a £20m release clause in Vardy’s contract on Friday while the 29-year-old was expected to decide whether to join the Gunners or stay with Premier League champions Leicester City before flying to France on Monday.
No decision was forthcoming and Vardy, who netted 24 top-flight goals last term, now appears ready to put any such debate on his future onto the back-burner until England’s involvement at the tournament has ended.
Hodgson, who allowed Vardy to miss England’s friendly with Australia for his wedding, has spoken of his desire for transfer speculation to be left at home and for players to fully focus on Euro 2016 while in France.
As England prepare for their Group B opener against Russia in Marseille on Saturday, Liverpool marksman Daniel Sturridge insists he has seen nothing from Vardy to suggest he has become distracted by the saga involving his future.
“That is what everyone is here to do, concentrate on England and not focus on the speculation outside of that,” said Sturridge.
“It is about going there with the right mentality and the right frame of mind, and Jamie’s exactly that way. He is not worrying about anything other than England.”
With an average age of 25 the Three Lions have the youngest squad at the tournament, although Sturridge insists England’s relative inexperience is something to embrace rather than fear.
“I don’t think age has anything to do with it. I think it is more so how you play as a team and gel as a team,” added Sturridge.
“Look at Manchester United and other club sides that have had young squads and had a gelling period and been successful and I believe we can do that. This is a young squad. That is a strength not a weakness.”